Digestive upset is a problem that almost everyone has encountered. Loose stools and rumbling in the stomach can be a symptom of a disease, a reaction to the quality or quantity of food eaten, and even a biological norm. To understand what is the cause of discomfort and how to get rid of it, you need to consider the mechanism of formation of this somatic problem.
Norm Options
Watery stools and rumbling in the abdomen are not always a reason to seek medical attention or self-medication. There are a number of reasons when these phenomena are fully justified and safe.
For example, overeating may be a cause. When a person eats a large amount of diverse, mainly heavy food, for example at a festive table, the body may not be able to digest this volume.
It is important to understand that even a one-time severe overeating is a tremendous load not only on the stomach, but also on the pancreas, liver, spleen, gall bladder. Therefore, the body seeks to quickly get rid of food mass in a natural way. So there is rumbling in the stomach and loose stools.
It also makes sense to pay attention to what kind of food was consumed. There are products that have a pronounced laxative effect. For example, after eating a considerable amount of prunes or fresh berries, do not be surprised that there will be loose stools and rumbling in the stomach.
Sometimes these two signs may not be interrelated. For example, noise in the stomach may be due to hunger, and diarrhea is triggered by the onset of menstruation in a woman.
Thus, these symptoms can be considered normal if they:
- are not systemic in nature;
- pass quickly;
- do not significantly impair overall well-being;
- not supplemented with other signs of pathology.
Otherwise, the arising signals of the disease must be treated in a timely manner as potentially dangerous to health and consult a doctor.
Causes of Symptoms
Sometimes loose stools, abdominal pain, rumbling are signs of the disease.
- Pancreatitis is a disease manifested by an inflammatory process in the pancreas. In this case, the main symptom is pain in the hypochondrium, and loose stools and rumbling in the abdomen are secondary symptoms.
- Gastric ulcer is a pathology in which defects and changes in tissues are formed on the gastric mucosa. The disease affects all digestion processes, including the digestion of food by the intestines.
- Gastrointestinal infection is often detected due to diarrhea and abdominal noise. It can be caused by a virus, bacteria, protozoa.
- Intestinal dysbiosis is a pathology that causes constant rumbling in the abdomen and loose stools. Officially, dysbiosis is not recognized as a disease, but nevertheless it can become the basis of significant discomfort.
- Food poisoning is the most common cause of intestinal discomfort. It occurs when poor-quality or expired food is consumed or when chemicals that cause intoxication enter the digestive tract.
Causes of Symptoms in Pregnant Women
During pregnancy, any somatic pathology has a high risk of exacerbation. For example, a woman may not suspect that she is sick with chronic pancreatitis, gastritis or gastroduodenitis, but in the process of bearing a child, the existing pathology will reveal itself in all its symptoms.
That is why, if during pregnancy there is an eructation, rumbling in the abdomen, loose stools - it is necessary to inform the doctor about this.
Speaking about the specific causes of intestinal dysfunctions characteristic of pregnant women, polyhydramnios should be noted. As the name implies, this pathology occurs when the amount of amniotic fluid exceeds the norm. In this case, the uterus begins to put pressure on the digestive organs, which is why its disorder arises.
Causes of Symptoms in Infants
After birth, the child may show minor disturbances in the digestive tract. In the womb, the baby’s intestines do not fulfill their function, as food penetrates through the blood. Then, when the baby is born, many microbes enter its digestive tract, forming its own microflora. This process may well be accompanied by discomfort in the abdomen, rumbling.
If the problem is of a prolonged nature or is significantly displayed on the general well-being of the baby, you should immediately visit a pediatrician. The reasons, as a rule, can be two: intestinal dysbiosis or lack of enzymes for digesting breast milk - lactase deficiency.
Psychosomatics
Sometimes even the most thorough examination does not reveal any deviations in a person, despite the presence of symptoms. In this case, it makes sense to suspect a phenomenon such as psychosomatics.
All processes of our body are regulated by the nervous system, or rather, its two departments - the sympathetic and parasympathetic. With the coordinated work of these systems, a person feels healthy. But if a stressful situation arises, an imbalance occurs between them. And if the activity of the sympathetic nervous system becomes excessively active, functional digestive disorders may appear.
Stress itself may not be felt or regarded by a person as such. Nevertheless, the reaction of the body starts the corresponding processes.
Diagnostics
If you have these symptoms that do not go away on your own, you need to see a doctor - therapist or gastroenterologist. If the discomfort is extremely pronounced, you can choose an ambulance service. And in anticipation of her arrival, drink enough liquid to replenish the body's water balance during an attack of diarrhea.
The main examination methods are:
- an oral survey, a history of chronic diseases;
- palpation of the abdomen, examination of the patient;
- laboratory blood tests to consider indicators of inflammation (fibrinogen, ESR, white blood cells), and assess the performance of systems and organs (ALT, ALS, bilirubin, alpha-amylase);
- laboratory examination of feces for occult blood;
- Ultrasound of the internal organs.
Treatment
Based on the examination and diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a treatment plan. Rumbling in the abdomen, loose stools, the treatment of which is necessary in this case, disappear as the underlying disease is stopped or eliminated. However, in parallel, the doctor may prescribe symptomatic treatment to improve digestion and normalize stool.
If during the examination no somatic diseases of the systems were identified as causing a rumbling in the abdomen, both loose stools and intestinal discomfort can be eliminated by taking enzymes, absorbents, probiotics, prebiotics.
Of great importance is the correct diet and diet. Eat every 3-4 hours in small portions. It is important to ensure that the balance of fats, proteins and carbohydrates remains correct. It is necessary to completely exclude all products that can cause gas formation and diarrhea: prunes, legumes, fresh baked goods, chocolate. During exacerbations, the balance of proteins and carbohydrates can be slightly shifted in favor of the former.
Treatment with folk remedies
As an addition to the prescribed treatment regimen, alternative medicine recipes can be used. You can stop diarrhea with:
- decoction of oak bark;
- tea with chamomile;
- a decoction of rice;
- tinctures from dill seeds;
- peppermint tea;
- strong tea leaves.
When choosing a prescription for traditional medicine, it is extremely important to ask the opinion of your doctor. Firstly, the means may not have the desired effectiveness, and secondly, it does not combine well with the drugs being taken and, finally, it is simply dangerous to the health of a particular person.
Prevention
In order not to encounter such unpleasant phenomena as diarrhea and abdominal noise, prophylactic methods must be followed.
The basic set of rules includes food hygiene measures. Products for consumption should be fresh, clean, and have undergone the necessary heat treatment. You can’t eat in unfamiliar dubious establishments, buy fast food on the street. Wash hands thoroughly before eating, especially if chemicals could get on your skin.
The second reliable prevention tool is regular and timely medical examination. At least once a year, it is necessary to donate blood and urine for studies that reflect the work of internal organs. So you can see the pathology at its early stage, when there are no symptoms yet.